Bowling guide



Sept. 30, 1969 w. G. M KEE 3,469,841

BOWLING GUIDE Filed May 2, 1966 mvem'bn, WILLIAM G, McKee ATTORNEY g i I 5 4 3 United States Patent US. Cl. 273-54 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bowling guide for assisting a bowler in controlling his back swing in a bowling ball delivery utilizing a frame which is readily mounted on a waist belt of the bowler and a feeler arm supported by the frame for disposition across the path of swing of a bowler during the ball delivering operation.

Background of the invention This invention relates in general to the art of bowling,

and, more particularly, to a guide for controlling back swing in a bowling ball delivery.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bowling guide which is portable, being adapted for ready mounting upon the garments of a bowler for indicating the limit of the bowlers back swing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a guide of the character stated which is readily adjustable so as to allow an individual bowler to determine the extent of back swing of his peculiar delivery, in order that requisite force is accorded the ball for rolling as well as promote desired accuracy by determining the path of movement of the arm with respect to the body during the delivering action.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a guide of the character stated, the use of which instructs a bowler against the application of unnecessary force in ball delivery so as to obviate skidding of the ball, as well as generally conduce to increased accuracy.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a guide of the character stated which is simple in construction, having minimal components fabricated of durable materials so as to be resistant to breakage or damage; which may be easily used by bowlers without requiring special skills in such usage; which is economical to manufacture; and the use of which conduces to increased proficiency in the art of bowling on the part of the user.

Other objects and details of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the following drawing (one sheet), wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bowling guide constructed in accordance with and embodying the pres ent invention, illustrating the same in operative position upon the waist belt of a bowler.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a bowling guide illustrating varying positions of adjustment of the same in phantom lines.

FIGURE 3 is an end view taken on the right side of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view.

FIGURE 5 is an end view taken on the left side of FIGURE 2.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention, A generally designates a bowling guide adapted by means presently described to be detachably mounted upon the waist encircling portion of the garments of a bowler, such as a belt, as indicated at 1. Guide A incorporates a frame, indicated generally at 2, which comprises a base bar 3, drilled at each of its ends to provide openings (not shown) for extension therethrough of screws 4,4 or the like, which project through aligned openings (not shown) in mounting arms 5, 6 normally presented in axial perpendicular relationship to bar 3; there being wing nuts 7 engaged upon the threaded stems of said screws 4, 4 for allowing of ready tightening and loosening of the same for reasons to be discussed hereinbelow.

Each of said mounting arms 5, 6 at their inner ends are integrally provided with downwardly opening hooks 8, 9, respectively, which are presented upwardly from the plan of the related mounting arms 5, 6, for ready disposition upon a suitable garment edge, such as the waist of trousers or skirts, or belts worn by a bowler. Mounting arm 6 is of relatively increased length with respect to mounting arm 5, and is provided spacedly throughout its extent with a plurality of apertures 10 for selected registration with the opening in the proximate end of base bar 3, so that the distance between book 9 and base bar 3 may be controlled for adjustment purposes.

Provided for support by frame 2 is a feeler arm 11 fabricated preferably of wire stock, and having at its inner end a loop or eyelet 12 for disposition about the stem of screw 4' between base bar 3 and the overlying portion of mounting arm 6 (FIGURE .2) whereby with appropriate tightening of the related wing nut 7, stable sandwiching of said feeler arm 11 therebetween is assured. At its outer end, feeler arm 11 may carry a plug or enlarged finial 13, as of rubber or the like, for protective and weight-producing purposes.

In usage, guide A will be worn by the bowler, being disposed at the rear of the waist adjacent the bowling arm of the user. Hooks 8, 9 may be suitably engaged upon a belt, a waist-band, or the like. Mounting arm 6 being longer than arm 5, is located laterally outwardly of the latter. Base bar 3 will thus be located spacedly rearwardly of the bowlers back. Feeler arm 11 is thereby presented for extension laterally outwardly from mounting arm 6 for disposition transversely across the path of movement of the bowlers arm during the ball delivering action. By suitable manipulation of wing nut 7 on screw 4', feeler arm 11 may be presented within such path of movement at any desired point thereon, as shown in FIG- URE 2. The exact disposition of feeler arm 11 is determined by the individual bowler for the purpose of indicating the arrival of the arm at a predetermined limit during the back-swinging movement.

If a bowler wishes to have a relatively extensive back swing, feeler arm 11 would be adjusted for positionment as indicated in the upper portion of FIGURE 2, so that contact would not be made with the arm, until the back swing had been relatively advanced. On the other hand, if a limited back swing is desired, then feeler arm 11 would be presented as indicated in the lower portion of FIGURE 2, as to be contacted by the bowlers arm at a relatively early point in the back swing. It will be further observed that guide A is adapted for further adjustability by reason of using a selected opening 10 in mounting arm 6 so as to present feeler arm 11 in selected zones, either nearer to or more remote from, the bowlers hip for further adjustment as described within such zones.

Guide A is designed by utilization of feeler arm 11 to indicate to a bowler the extent of back swing in order that the bowler will not, as it were, over-swing and provide unnecessary force which conduces to skidding of the ball rather than the desired rolling action, as well as to cause a reduction in accuracy.

It will be seen that guide A may be most economically manufactured and is exceedingly simple in usage, but yet competent to bring about marked increase in the proficiency of the user.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the formation, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the Bowling Guide may be made and substituted for these herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent is:

1. A bowling guide for controlling a bowlers back swing comprising a pair of spaced apart, substantially parallel arms, mounting means provided at one end of each of said arms for engagement upon a bowlers wearing apparel, a base bar detachably engaged upon both of said arms between the ends thereof and extending between said arms, and an elongated yieldable feeler arm adjustably engaged upon said base bar adjacent one of said arms and extending laterally outwardly beyond the said adjacent arm.

2. A bowling guide for controlling a bowlers back swing comprising a frame, said frame comprising a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel arms, mounting means provided at one end of each of said arms for engagement with a bowlers wearing apparel, a base bar detachably engaged upon both of said arms and extending therebetween, and an elongated yieldable feeler arm adjustably engaged on said frame adjacent the juncture of said base bar and one of said arms and extending laterally outwardly beyond the said one of said arms.

3. A bowling guide for controlling a bowlers back swing as defined in claim 1 and further characteriied by said mounting means comprising hook-forming elements.

4.,A bowling guide for controlling a bowlers back swing as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said feeler arm being constructed of wire stock.

5. A bowling guide for controlling a bowlers back swing as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by means for adjusting the disposition of said base bar between said arms.

6. A bowling guide for controlling a bowlers back swing as defined in claim 5 and further characterized by said means for adjusting said base bar comprising a plurality of openings provided spacedly longitudinally of one of said arms, and fastening means for engaging the proximate end of said base bar selectedly within one-of said openings. v

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,956,201 4/1934 Roberts. 2,690,911 11/1954 NeWgren 273189 2,773,691 12/1956 Redfield 273189 3,000,633 9/ 1961 Bonovich.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner 

